Our Agents

Robert “Bob” Chancer has been a resident of Hawai‘i Island since 1977. When he moved to the Kohala Coast in 1981, he launched his Hawai‘i real estate and has been serving his clients with excellence and integrity for more than three decades since then. He played a significant role in the evolution of the area’s residential real estate market, involved in marketing and sales at many of the premier new resort developments that cropped up over the years. As a result, he is intimately familiar with the offerings at each of the many resort communities along the Kona-Kohala Coast.

Bob served as the exclusive sales agent at Kauna‘oa at Mauna Kea Resort. He took the helm at Mauna Kea Realty – A Hawai‘i Life Company since 2013 when he took the helm with partner Steve Hurwitz. They were able to increase the firm’s market share and sales volume tenfold in just a few short years. To do so, they leveraged their broad network of clients and relationships along the Kona-Kohala Coast, established and nurtured over the course of more than 30 years.

They also improved the marketing and client offerings by embracing digital and online strategies. Seeing an opportunity to expand their success further, they joined forces with Hawai‘i Life. Their Kona-Kohala Coast expertise and long-term perspective have been enhanced by the unrivaled statewide network, global affiliations, brand recognition, and digital platforms of Hawai‘i Life. The 10-year old firm is the statewide leader in luxury listings and sales and the third largest brokerage in Hawai‘i.

Throughout his Hawai‘i real estate career, Bob has held many senior leadership sales roles. He served as the Principal Broker of Sea Cliff Realty, where he was the exclusive sales agent for 49 Black Sand Beach at the Mauna Lani Resort. Bob also served as the Principal Broker at Pauoa Beach Realty in the same capacity, working as the exclusive sales agent for Pauoa Beach at Mauna Lani Resort. His experience has taken him to Costa Rica, where he served as Vice President of Sales and Development for Peninsula Papagayo and the Four Seasons Resort. His son Jake Chancer has followed in his footsteps, working alongside his father as a Realtor at Mauna Kea Realty – A Hawai‘i Life Company.

A Hawai‘i Island resident since 1975, Steve Hurwitz began his Hawai‘i real estate career in 1979. Since then, he’s closed more than $1 billion in real estate transactions along the Kona-Kohala Coast. He’s also been the Big Island’s No. 1 broker since 2000, exceeding the sales volume of every industry professional on Hawai‘i Island for close to two decades. A Broker-In-Chargel at Mauna Kea Realty – A Hawai‘i Life Company, Steve brings close to forty years of area knowledge and expertise to his role.

With such a deep understanding of the market and the nuances of every resort community along the Kona-Kohala Coast, it is no wonder that he and partner Bob Chancer were able to increase market share and sales volume at Mauna Kea Resort in the few short years since they took the helm at Mauna Kea Realty. Their combined network of clients, combined with their strategic moves towards digital and online marketing helped to bring the company to a new level.

Recognizing the reach and exposure that digital platforms could provide, they joined forces with Hawai‘i Life, the state’s third largest brokerage and the statewide leader in luxury listings and sales. Today, Bob and Steve’s local market knowledge is enhanced by the unrivaled statewide network, global affiliations, brand recognition, and digital platforms of Hawai‘i Life.

Frank Schenk has been specializing in luxury resort properties since his Hawai‘i real estate career began in 2005. He has consistently ranked among the top 100 realtors in the state of Hawai‘i, with career sales exceeding $350 million. Named a Top 10 Realtor in “Who’s Who in Hawai‘i Real Estate,” Frank attributes his success to his deep bench of knowledge in the luxury market, as well as to his broad network of clients both in the United States and in Japan.

Frank is a native of Tokyo, Japan and is bilingual in Japanese and English. He also has a deep understanding of Japanese culture and traditions, knowledge that has served him well in his real estate career. He has attracted many foreign investors as clients, who look to Frank for buying and selling advice and feel comfortable consulting him on all matters.

Frank attended St. Mary’s International School in Tokyo and later, he attended college at Washington State University and the University of Hawai‘i, where he majored in Business. He developed real estate on O‘ahu for several years before moving to the Big Island in 1993. Frank and his family chose the beautiful West Hawai‘i town of Waimea as their home – an ideal small town location to raise their three sons.

Frank was involved in the development of Hualalai Resort and the Four Seasons Resort along the sunny Kohala Coast, working for Kajima Construction Company, until the sale of the resort to MSD Capital. At this turning point in 2005, Frank took the opportunity to reignite his real estate career and focus on representing luxury resort properties along the Kohala Coast.
Frank has since built a solid reputation for having extensive area knowledge, a strong work ethic, and a dedication to providing exceptional service to all of his clients. He served as the Director of Residential Services at the Hualalai Resort before joining the team at Mauna Kea Realty in 2015. In recent years, his primary emphasis has been on the Mauna Kea, Hualalai and Kukio resort communities.

Born and raised in Newport Beach, California, Jim Allison is a fourth generation Southern Californian. But his Hawai‘i roots go back more than sixty years, to a time when his parents first met as summer school students at the University of Hawai‘i on O‘ahu, while they were both enrolled at USC. While enrolled at Newport Harbor High School, Jim began a family legacy in the sport of waterpolo. Jim’s younger brother, niece and oldest daughter have carried on the legacy of the sport. Jim went on to attend Orange Coast College, University of California at Long Beach and USC.

Jim launched his real estate career while a student himself at USC, working for Coldwell Banker Commercial Real Estate. He became a real estate appraiser after his graduation in 1985.
Jim moved to the Big Island of Hawai‘i to assist in various commercial and residential developments on the Kohala Coast in 1988. What began as 2-3 year life plan morphed into a 30-year Hawai‘i real estate career. Jim has worked for several Big Island developer. Jim served as the Residential Project Sales Manager for Maryl Construction, responsible for project sales from Kona to Waimea on Hawai‘i Island, and as far away as Poipu on Kaua‘i.

Jim lives in Waimea with his wife Mary Jane “MJ” and two of his three children. MJ is also licensed with Mauna Kea Realty. Jim’s oldest daughter Angelique attends the University of San Diego. Jim’s seven year old son Robert James “RJ” attends Hawai‘i Preparatory Academy (HPA), an exclusive private school in Waimea, and his youngest daughter Kimberly begins kindergarten at HPA this year. His wife MJ is very involved with the HPA ‘Ohana Association and has brought the sport of cheerleading back to HPA as the Head Coach for the past four years.

“Being a part of the Mauna Kea Realty team has been a true blessing” says Jim. “As a Mauna Kea Resort Club Member and agent I have developed a profound appreciation of the Resort and its rich history. To be able to work with people who share this appreciation is absolutely awesome and a true dream come true.” When not working, Jim enjoys time with family, cooking and traveling and of course spending time at The Mauna Kea Resort where Jim has been a member for many years.

Jake Chancer was born and raised in Waimea on the Big Island of Hawai‘i. Following his graduation from Hawai‘i Preparatory Academy, Jake spent ten years in Southern California, where he obtained his Bachelor’s Degree in Business and Corporate Communications. He began his real estate career as an associate agent with Santa Barbara’s top commercial real estate team, led by Steve Brown, President and Founder of Radius Group Commercial Real Estate & Investment.

Jake recently returned home to his beloved Big Island of Hawai‘i. He brings his passion for real estate and Hawai‘i to Mauna Kea Realty, where he shares his unique knowledge and first-hand experience of the area with his clients.

Jake comes from a real estate family. He’s the son of Bob Chancer, Broker-In-Charge at Mauna Kea Realty. Bob has been representing clients along the Kona-Kohala Coast for more than 30 years and as a result, Jake was exposed to all aspects of the real estate business from childhood.

Jake’s integrity, energy, work ethic and creativity are integral to providing the highest level of service to his clients, in every aspect of the real estate transaction. Jake is an active member of the community and enjoys surfing, golf, tennis and sharing the best that Hawai‘i has to offer with his clients.

Kathrin “Chacha” Kohler was born and raised in Germany. She arrived with her husband and their two children to Hawai‘i in 1973. Her husband’s career in the hotel industry brought them to many beautiful places. They lived in Germany, in Paris, France, in Puerto Rico and on the lovely island of St. John in the U.S. Virgin Islands. A job transfer to the iconic Mauna Kea Beach Hotel on the Kohala Coast led them to Hawai‘i. They settled into the charming small town life of Waimea on Hawai‘i Island, where they have lived for more than four decades.

In 1982, Mauna Kea Properties began developing new real estate at Mauna Kea Resort. They hired and trained Chacha to work in the opening sales office, and she has specialized in Mauna Kea Resort residential communities for more than 30 years since then. Passionate about this beautiful place, she served as the firm’s Principal Broker beginning in 2000. Though the company has changed hands, she continues to serve Mauna Kea Resort residents and clients with excellence, as a highly experienced Broker with expertise in the many neighborhoods and resort communities along the Kohala Coast. Though she loves them all, Chacha describes the Mauna Kea Resort as her special place.

She believes that her extensive training in the hotel business made her well-suited for residential resort real estate sales since it’s also a “people business” highly attuned to customer care. Chacha enjoys meeting new people, getting to know them, and building long-term friendships with her many clients. Her favorite aspect of her profession is finding just the right place for the many families that call the unique Mauna Kea Resort their home. Chacha said, “Mauna Kea Resort is a family gathering place where several generations of each family come to spend great times together.”

Chacha loves to travel herself and has been to many beautiful places throughout Europe, Africa, Asia, and South America. Her fluency in several languages has served her well on her many trips. Chacha speaks German, English and gets along well in both French and Spanish. She just recently returned from a trip to China and Tibet.

Nic Schenk joined Mauna Kea Realty – A Hawai‘i Life Company in 2015. Under the leadership of Steve Hurwitz, Bob Chancer and Frank Schenk, Nic has proven his abilities as a successful realtor, achieved through dedication and a strong work ethic. Competitive by nature, Nic‘s quest is to perform at his best in everything he does.

Nic was born in Honolulu and raised in Waimea, on the Big Island, where he graduated from Hawai‘i Preparatory Academy. He went on to complete his bachelor’s degree in Business Marketing at the University of the Pacific, where he was a scholarship recipient, recognized for his athleticism. While a student there, he appeared on the Dean’s List and served as captain of the Division One Men’s Volleyball team.

His upbringing has instilled in him the importance of family values, loyalty, respect and honesty. He works closely with his father, Frank Schenk, in real estate sales and together, they provide the highest quality of service to their clients. Nic’s experience on Hawai‘i Island provides his clients with unprecedented knowledge of each area and resort community.
Nic loves the ocean and during his free time, he can be found surfing, canoe paddling, and playing on a local volleyball team. Recently married in 2017, he and his wife Jessamin and their son Aiden also enjoy quality time with family and friends.

I started my real estate career in 1999 at the renowned real estate company, C and H Properties in Waimea. Licensed in 2002, most of my real estate career has been on the administration side of the business assisting the most successful real estate Brokers on the North side of the Island. Blessed to have been raised in Waimea on this beautiful Island of Hawai’i where I continue to reside with my husband, 3 sons and 5 grandchildren. Live Aloha, Live Hawai’i Life!